tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33178319299699133702019-06-07T09:37:50.152-04:00Green Zebra Market GardenGreen Zebra Market Gardenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10030147550078130741noreply@blogger.comBlogger339125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3317831929969913370.post-86627496246426176112016-01-27T18:00:00.000-05:002016-01-27T18:00:07.756-05:00Check Out My New Blog: HorticultistHi all,<br /><br />I've decided to start a new blog and I'd love to invite you to check it out! <br /><br />My goal for the new blog is to document my day to day experiences as a horticulturist.&nbsp; Between my personal and professional life, I grow hundreds of different varieties and over 30,00 individual plants each year.&nbsp; I'd love to share some of their stories with you!<br /><br />So if you're ready, please head over to my new blog, <a href="http://horticultist.blogspot.com/">Horticultist</a>.<br /><br />What exactly is a horticultist?&nbsp; It's a word I use to describe a person devoted to and obsessed with the art and science of gardening.&nbsp; And, it's a word I use to describe myself!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iiwFrs1skeQ/Vqk0I14ByGI/AAAAAAAABkQ/Ce1nEnV5_Gs/s1600/Horticultist%2BLogo.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="356" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iiwFrs1skeQ/Vqk0I14ByGI/AAAAAAAABkQ/Ce1nEnV5_Gs/s640/Horticultist%2BLogo.PNG" width="640" /></a></div><br />Green Zebra Market Gardenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10030147550078130741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3317831929969913370.post-837602783694815692015-03-19T08:46:00.000-04:002015-03-19T08:46:04.932-04:00MSU Horticulture Garden's Plant Sale 2015<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NLsimKDL_MQ/VQrEQc_1m1I/AAAAAAAABck/w0SGrdfUJEg/s1600/Slide1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NLsimKDL_MQ/VQrEQc_1m1I/AAAAAAAABck/w0SGrdfUJEg/s1600/Slide1.JPG" height="491" width="640" /></a></div><br />If you're in the Greater Lansing Area in mid-May, heck, if you're anywhere in Michigan, come check out our plant sale! You'll find an amazing selection of unusual annuals, perennials, herbs, and veggies!<br /><br />This happens in 8 short weeks. MARK YOUR CALENDARS!Green Zebra Market Gardenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10030147550078130741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3317831929969913370.post-21723121892313899742015-01-28T08:00:00.002-05:002015-02-05T10:50:51.325-05:00Our Most Curious Ornamental: Castor Bean<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZNE3eG-63Yg/Uufwih8tsHI/AAAAAAAABNY/DRV6IJCA5Fc/s1600/DSCF5252.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZNE3eG-63Yg/Uufwih8tsHI/AAAAAAAABNY/DRV6IJCA5Fc/s1600/DSCF5252.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1w9mU0j_PNY/UufwiahYLQI/AAAAAAAABNU/ih5XXkY6ee0/s1600/DSCF5320.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1w9mU0j_PNY/UufwiahYLQI/AAAAAAAABNU/ih5XXkY6ee0/s1600/DSCF5320.JPG" height="640" width="456" /></a></div><br />Green Zebra Market Gardenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10030147550078130741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3317831929969913370.post-79991190261856567582014-06-24T08:12:00.000-04:002014-06-24T08:12:12.041-04:00Garden Day Live Stream Today!<span class="userContent">Please join me for the first ever live broadcast preview of the MSU Horticulture Garden's Garden Day! Get tips from Jessica Wright and Daedre Craig (that's me!) to Green up your garden and spice up your meals! Watch Live on the MSUAA LENS Livestream, June 24th at noon!</span> <br /><br /><br /><a href="http://new.livestream.com/msualumni/MSUGardenDay">http://new.livestream.com/msualumni/MSUGardenDay</a><br /><br /><img alt="" class="center" height="446" src="http://www.hrt.msu.edu/assets/PageImages/garden-day-2014/2014-GardenDay-cover-crop.jpg" title="" width="693" />Green Zebra Market Gardenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10030147550078130741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3317831929969913370.post-24681323159936045692014-03-14T12:28:00.000-04:002014-03-14T12:28:00.149-04:00New Batch of Baby ChicksI picked up a new batch of chicks a couple weeks ago and haven't gotten around to sharing the news yet.<br /><br />I have 11 chicks at the moment, but only a portion of them will be staying with me (the rest will go to other chicken owners). In the mix are a Buff Orpington, a Silver Laced Wyandotte, and nine Easter Eggers. I decided to keep only Easter Eggers this time. I think it will be fun because they will all look different and it will be a surprise!<br /><br />Here are some photos of the chicks when they were 2 weeks old. <br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--qGy0CBcUnQ/UyMs7ZRMTdI/AAAAAAAABYI/zNknmrTemoE/s1600/IMG_0814.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--qGy0CBcUnQ/UyMs7ZRMTdI/AAAAAAAABYI/zNknmrTemoE/s1600/IMG_0814.JPG" height="298" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Easter Egger</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5q-eyQnosw4/UyMtAAcYv9I/AAAAAAAABYQ/Hn6MyEet2vw/s1600/IMG_0796.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5q-eyQnosw4/UyMtAAcYv9I/AAAAAAAABYQ/Hn6MyEet2vw/s1600/IMG_0796.jpg" height="400" width="298" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Easter Egger</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--BM3FuG_AcQ/UyMtDzvGP4I/AAAAAAAABYY/q6HJNaocmvo/s1600/IMG_0809.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--BM3FuG_AcQ/UyMtDzvGP4I/AAAAAAAABYY/q6HJNaocmvo/s1600/IMG_0809.jpg" height="400" width="298" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Easter Egger</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_ZNDo4Ey2vA/UyMtKrrx-5I/AAAAAAAABYg/cc-Afj724_E/s1600/IMG_0785+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_ZNDo4Ey2vA/UyMtKrrx-5I/AAAAAAAABYg/cc-Afj724_E/s1600/IMG_0785+2.JPG" height="298" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Buff Orpington</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SYl3HJPAjz0/UyMtNsaXWII/AAAAAAAABYo/qC48jS2Uruc/s1600/IMG_0803.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SYl3HJPAjz0/UyMtNsaXWII/AAAAAAAABYo/qC48jS2Uruc/s1600/IMG_0803.JPG" height="298" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Silver Laced Wyandotte</td></tr></tbody></table><br />Green Zebra Market Gardenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10030147550078130741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3317831929969913370.post-35224857027025359402014-03-04T08:00:00.000-05:002014-03-04T08:00:01.881-05:00Grow Your Own Pea Shoots (Part 2)So here's what happened with the <a href="http://greenzebramarketgarden.blogspot.com/2014/02/grow-your-own-pea-shoots_17.html">peas I soaked and sowed</a> a couple weeks ago.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ToyiZaHUlfA/UxTdw-7-KtI/AAAAAAAABXk/170ARfBtstM/s1600/IMG_0595.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ToyiZaHUlfA/UxTdw-7-KtI/AAAAAAAABXk/170ARfBtstM/s1600/IMG_0595.jpg" height="640" width="476" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">They started to send up shoots pretty quickly (day 2 or 3 after sowing the pre-sprouted seeds).</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-epd3VDf0emc/UxTdwbP2bJI/AAAAAAAABXs/W5SOMbcr3Uk/s1600/IMG_0679.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-epd3VDf0emc/UxTdwbP2bJI/AAAAAAAABXs/W5SOMbcr3Uk/s1600/IMG_0679.jpg" height="640" width="476" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I went on vacation for 5 days and when I got back to work, this is how they looked!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EH1rnBzEFSg/UxTdw52gL4I/AAAAAAAABXo/MrijBbUYlpw/s1600/IMG_0680.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EH1rnBzEFSg/UxTdw52gL4I/AAAAAAAABXo/MrijBbUYlpw/s1600/IMG_0680.jpg" height="640" width="476" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The tendrils are very pretty.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WxQFi0wUoUo/UxTdx2RFAhI/AAAAAAAABX8/Tsr4i4CMkWY/s1600/IMG_0683.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WxQFi0wUoUo/UxTdx2RFAhI/AAAAAAAABX8/Tsr4i4CMkWY/s1600/IMG_0683.jpg" height="640" width="476" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I snipped off the shoots and washed them. The shoots were very tasty (they taste just like raw pea pods). I think they would be really elegant in a fancy salad.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mGpoj2-gxNE/UxTdyY-XehI/AAAAAAAABX4/1QmvVvO8gMQ/s1600/IMG_0685.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mGpoj2-gxNE/UxTdyY-XehI/AAAAAAAABX4/1QmvVvO8gMQ/s1600/IMG_0685.jpg" height="640" width="476" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I'm going to wait and see if the stubs will re-grow, for a second harvest.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><br />Green Zebra Market Gardenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10030147550078130741noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3317831929969913370.post-64599552106927233462014-02-28T12:15:00.000-05:002014-02-28T12:15:00.435-05:00Shots from the GreenhouseIt was something like -20F outside this morning (with the windchill), but it's a right around 70F in the greenhouse...a lovely place to work in the cold of winter!<br /><br />These plants have been potted up by the MSU Horticulture Club, which will be having fundraiser plant sale on April 12 and 13 in the Plant and Soil Sciences Building on MSU's campus.&nbsp; <br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PDS3n9gK9vo/UxCtTt5bEKI/AAAAAAAABW0/0TzdsWY2C5g/s1600/IMG_0587.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PDS3n9gK9vo/UxCtTt5bEKI/AAAAAAAABW0/0TzdsWY2C5g/s1600/IMG_0587.jpg" height="640" width="476" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Coleus, lots and lots of coleus!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-L0Tx5vEVLVk/UxCtSjnjdNI/AAAAAAAABWo/s7ICbzdPLn8/s1600/IMG_0590.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-L0Tx5vEVLVk/UxCtSjnjdNI/AAAAAAAABWo/s7ICbzdPLn8/s1600/IMG_0590.jpg" height="640" width="476" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ageratum</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-686WQdNusLw/UxCtTEzRJDI/AAAAAAAABWs/o3zJ48PRqYc/s1600/IMG_0591.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-686WQdNusLw/UxCtTEzRJDI/AAAAAAAABWs/o3zJ48PRqYc/s1600/IMG_0591.jpg" height="640" width="476" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hypoestes (polka dot plant)</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0TMnvWbX-ns/UxCtUZWq_8I/AAAAAAAABW8/88Mx8XEknHQ/s1600/IMG_0592.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0TMnvWbX-ns/UxCtUZWq_8I/AAAAAAAABW8/88Mx8XEknHQ/s1600/IMG_0592.jpg" height="640" width="476" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oxalis and coleus</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-845Z6534jO8/UxCtU_rRGjI/AAAAAAAABXI/IBCLPUuByZU/s1600/IMG_0593.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-845Z6534jO8/UxCtU_rRGjI/AAAAAAAABXI/IBCLPUuByZU/s1600/IMG_0593.jpg" height="640" width="476" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Heuchera</td></tr></tbody></table><br />Green Zebra Market Gardenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10030147550078130741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3317831929969913370.post-24856325645298842392014-02-21T08:00:00.000-05:002014-02-21T08:00:00.950-05:00Potting Up SucculentsWe have <a href="http://greenzebramarketgarden.blogspot.com/2014/02/massive-quantities-of-succulents.html">quite an inventory</a> of succulents at work right now. I spent a little time potting some of them up into clay pots, since they seem to sell better in clay pots than in plastic pots.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nk_JD85PdsA/UwEyl1gs2hI/AAAAAAAABWI/T_VG3mMT0Ag/s1600/IMG_0562.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nk_JD85PdsA/UwEyl1gs2hI/AAAAAAAABWI/T_VG3mMT0Ag/s1600/IMG_0562.jpg" height="400" width="298" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KIT9SopGmF0/UwEyk8qA3XI/AAAAAAAABWA/MTA6wkwE8Mw/s1600/IMG_0563.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KIT9SopGmF0/UwEyk8qA3XI/AAAAAAAABWA/MTA6wkwE8Mw/s1600/IMG_0563.JPG" height="298" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vkPfyu8QEik/UwEynMjkulI/AAAAAAAABWU/9x5cNSAimFY/s1600/IMG_0564.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vkPfyu8QEik/UwEynMjkulI/AAAAAAAABWU/9x5cNSAimFY/s1600/IMG_0564.JPG" height="298" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vR6jETTJcbk/UwEymxkYoEI/AAAAAAAABWQ/0_bp4tAooJg/s1600/IMG_0565.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vR6jETTJcbk/UwEymxkYoEI/AAAAAAAABWQ/0_bp4tAooJg/s1600/IMG_0565.JPG" height="298" width="400" /></a></div><br />Green Zebra Market Gardenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10030147550078130741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3317831929969913370.post-72595053452966381092014-02-19T08:00:00.000-05:002014-02-19T08:00:01.826-05:00Temporary Tree FrogWe found a tree frog at the bottom of a pallet of potting mix bags. I relocated him to our indoor butterfly house. There currently are no butterflies in the house since we only have them for a couple months each year.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IYtE2NeVvJQ/UwExH2rVQnI/AAAAAAAABV0/AchXhOp4Fsg/s1600/IMG_0567.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IYtE2NeVvJQ/UwExH2rVQnI/AAAAAAAABV0/AchXhOp4Fsg/s1600/IMG_0567.JPG" height="298" width="400" /></a></div><br />Unfortunately, I found out that these guys can eat 2 or 3 butterflies a day during the exhibit. We think there are up to 6 tree frogs in the butterfly house, so that means 12 to 18 dead butterflies a day. The butterflies cost somewhere around $5 each (we buy the chrysalis), so that's a lot of money! I think we're going to have to try to hunt down all the tree frogs in the next couple weeks and relocate them.Green Zebra Market Gardenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10030147550078130741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3317831929969913370.post-72881620841631409682014-02-17T08:00:00.001-05:002014-02-17T08:00:01.254-05:00Grow Your Own Pea ShootsI'm getting ready to teach a class on growing sprouts, shoots, and microgreens in mid-March, so I've been experimenting with a lot of different types of seeds and methods for growing them. &nbsp;Most recently, I'm experimenting with growing pea shoots. I've never eaten them, so I'm excited to try some once they're ready.<br /><br />I bought a 2 pound back of dried green peas from an ethnic food store (they whole bag was only $2.50). I soaked the peas overnight, then rinsed them every 12 hours for the next two days. At that point, they looked like this:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bJ1O3eeHd9Y/UwEv92I6VnI/AAAAAAAABVg/fKaAHkwfySg/s1600/IMG_0568.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bJ1O3eeHd9Y/UwEv92I6VnI/AAAAAAAABVg/fKaAHkwfySg/s1600/IMG_0568.jpg" height="400" width="298" /></a></div><br />Then I spread them thickly over some potting mix.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-A1n4J68Q_MA/UwEv8bA82VI/AAAAAAAABVQ/BUn1bV_HnpE/s1600/IMG_0571.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-A1n4J68Q_MA/UwEv8bA82VI/AAAAAAAABVQ/BUn1bV_HnpE/s1600/IMG_0571.jpg" height="400" width="298" /></a></div><br />And covered them very lightly with some more potting mix.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-naBJReS2GNc/UwEv-MHY_tI/AAAAAAAABVk/BCN9fS3xjk4/s1600/IMG_0572.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-naBJReS2GNc/UwEv-MHY_tI/AAAAAAAABVk/BCN9fS3xjk4/s1600/IMG_0572.jpg" height="400" width="298" /></a></div><br />I left the pot in the mist-house at work over the weekend, so I'll update once I take more photos of the progress.Green Zebra Market Gardenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10030147550078130741noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3317831929969913370.post-47030624603615858332014-02-12T08:00:00.000-05:002014-02-12T08:00:00.195-05:00Massive Quantities of Succulents!Last fall, the Horticulture Gardens acquired a bunch of leftover succulents from one of the undergraduate classes. I've been nursing them along in the greenhouse all winter. I started taking cuttings a few weeks ago, since I was to propagate enough to use some of them out in the garden displays.<br /><br />We currently have almost an entire greenhouse bench of succulents, with about a dozen varieties. There are more trays in the propagation house rooting out.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-isGlEkXnXsU/UvZXLqGMo1I/AAAAAAAABTE/8TINy8LkrXo/s1600/IMG_0476.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-isGlEkXnXsU/UvZXLqGMo1I/AAAAAAAABTE/8TINy8LkrXo/s1600/IMG_0476.jpg" height="400" width="298" /></a></div><br /><br />I learned that these Aloe vera are carrying a common virus that caused black spots on some of the leaves. It's mostly an aesthetic issue, not harmful to any other plants, so we will keep them as long as they look good. I'm planning on using some of these in outdoor containers in some of our hotter areas of the garden.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QDGIx8FkzBM/UvZXMr-OnSI/AAAAAAAABTI/kaEK7zxYqhg/s1600/IMG_0477.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QDGIx8FkzBM/UvZXMr-OnSI/AAAAAAAABTI/kaEK7zxYqhg/s1600/IMG_0477.JPG" height="298" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zqWh3c8_VRo/UvZXOBcjQXI/AAAAAAAABTU/NtxceRQqo3U/s1600/IMG_0480.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zqWh3c8_VRo/UvZXOBcjQXI/AAAAAAAABTU/NtxceRQqo3U/s1600/IMG_0480.JPG" height="298" width="400" /></a></div><br />These hens and chicks are doing really well, they've grown a ton since we first planted them. This is a mixture of varieties so some of them have cool purple coloration.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GId1cA3_Ch8/UvZXSKpR1eI/AAAAAAAABT0/S4aoqR7V4LU/s1600/IMG_0481.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GId1cA3_Ch8/UvZXSKpR1eI/AAAAAAAABT0/S4aoqR7V4LU/s1600/IMG_0481.JPG" height="298" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sjI_7zKnamg/UvZXPS0fUEI/AAAAAAAABTc/ZZDMCFCw5Lw/s1600/IMG_0482.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sjI_7zKnamg/UvZXPS0fUEI/AAAAAAAABTc/ZZDMCFCw5Lw/s1600/IMG_0482.jpg" height="400" width="298" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-F4KF69RlcCE/UvZXP1BFvyI/AAAAAAAABTg/FYCDi4svczw/s1600/IMG_0483.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-F4KF69RlcCE/UvZXP1BFvyI/AAAAAAAABTg/FYCDi4svczw/s1600/IMG_0483.JPG" height="298" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ndAMx14ny-M/UvZXQ_SsPmI/AAAAAAAABTo/K0BP-IA8o5s/s1600/IMG_0484.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ndAMx14ny-M/UvZXQ_SsPmI/AAAAAAAABTo/K0BP-IA8o5s/s1600/IMG_0484.JPG" height="298" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VhYATK4O4rY/UvZXSDuJvTI/AAAAAAAABT4/EoJ2eoSPTvw/s1600/IMG_0485.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VhYATK4O4rY/UvZXSDuJvTI/AAAAAAAABT4/EoJ2eoSPTvw/s1600/IMG_0485.JPG" height="298" width="400" /></a></div><br />This variety was growing very spindly, so I cut them back hard (and used the cuttings for propagation). They are already starting to branch out from being pinched.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xOa4Eo1F4mE/UvZXSxSS9pI/AAAAAAAABUA/1-keoY7hT0k/s1600/IMG_0486.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xOa4Eo1F4mE/UvZXSxSS9pI/AAAAAAAABUA/1-keoY7hT0k/s1600/IMG_0486.JPG" height="298" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Hy3tbNsoLo8/UvZXUEiEr5I/AAAAAAAABUM/zM6dJptDGec/s1600/IMG_0487.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Hy3tbNsoLo8/UvZXUEiEr5I/AAAAAAAABUM/zM6dJptDGec/s1600/IMG_0487.JPG" height="298" width="400" /></a></div>&nbsp;This Crassula 'Campfire' is one of the faster growing varieties, so I'm going to use it in the display gardens. It goes through a rainbow of colors during the growing season.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-L1Mkb4_5Jpg/UvZXUyQxZEI/AAAAAAAABUQ/n0uY7Cw0bEU/s1600/IMG_0488.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-L1Mkb4_5Jpg/UvZXUyQxZEI/AAAAAAAABUQ/n0uY7Cw0bEU/s1600/IMG_0488.JPG" height="298" width="400" /></a></div><br />This Senicio is also one of the faster growing varieties, so I'm hoping to include it in some outdoor containers this summer.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GAIRZf4TqGU/UvZXWak1MSI/AAAAAAAABUc/-HL9uGXSPow/s1600/IMG_0489.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GAIRZf4TqGU/UvZXWak1MSI/AAAAAAAABUc/-HL9uGXSPow/s1600/IMG_0489.JPG" height="298" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-75-uACPCmo0/UvZXWSLc3eI/AAAAAAAABUg/0_J3PXURyKo/s1600/IMG_0490.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-75-uACPCmo0/UvZXWSLc3eI/AAAAAAAABUg/0_J3PXURyKo/s1600/IMG_0490.JPG" height="298" width="400" /></a></div><br />Green Zebra Market Gardenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10030147550078130741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3317831929969913370.post-15236852014224896852014-02-10T08:00:00.000-05:002014-02-10T08:00:01.570-05:00High-Back Chair Reupholstery (Part 1): PreparationMy high-back chair project is finally done, so I want to share the process with you, as well as some of the discoveries/mistakes I made.<br /><div><br /></div><div>Before you do anything, the first step to reupholstering a piece of furniture is to take a ton of photos. I'm only going to show you a few, but to give you an idea, I took over a hundred photos before and during the deconstruction phase! You want to document every part of the piece of furniture: how and where the cording is attached, where the fabric seams are, what it looks like underneath the chair and underneath the cushion. And you want to continue taking photos as you are deconstructing the chair, so you can remember how and where certain pieces of fabric were attached once it comes time to put the new fabric on.<br /><div><br /></div><div>So here's the chair I started with. I purchases it at a thrift store for $12. It was very sturdy and I liked the shape, but the velvet was worn and stained. Noticed the diamond-shaped pattern of buttons on the back panel (half of which were missing). I decided to forego these when I reconstructed the chair. Unless the back of the chair is concave, there really no need for the buttons and I thought it made the chair look dated.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-R3GKtL_NO3U/UvZNMGleWaI/AAAAAAAABSA/P8D412OujKE/s1600/IMG_0148.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-R3GKtL_NO3U/UvZNMGleWaI/AAAAAAAABSA/P8D412OujKE/s1600/IMG_0148.jpg" height="400" width="298" /></a></div><br />Make sure to take photos of the detailing, such as this piping along the back cushion. Notice also how the back cushion is boxed (there's a strip of fabric on the side). I actually decided to change this aspect of the chair and replaced the back cushion with a single piece of fabric. That reduced the amount of work and I think it looked better in the end.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OHUswWGnzyY/UvZNNYFuDmI/AAAAAAAABSQ/9upkwKWtbQ8/s1600/IMG_0153.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OHUswWGnzyY/UvZNNYFuDmI/AAAAAAAABSQ/9upkwKWtbQ8/s1600/IMG_0153.jpg" height="400" width="298" /></a></div><br />One of the worst parts of this chair was the sticky/greasy spots on the arm rests. Notice how the piping on the outside of the armrest is one continuous piece.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-G4pFDq6JvEQ/UvZNMSQQfCI/AAAAAAAABSE/3FprGLaHGGE/s1600/IMG_0156.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-G4pFDq6JvEQ/UvZNMSQQfCI/AAAAAAAABSE/3FprGLaHGGE/s1600/IMG_0156.jpg" height="400" width="298" /></a></div><br />That piping on the outside arm continues down to the underside of the chair where it was attached with a nail. Also note how the front corner of the chair is a separate piece of fabric from the outside arm. These are the kinds of things you want to document, so you don't get confused later trying to recreate it in the new fabric.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Bh_V0nvluEw/UvZNNz4h-XI/AAAAAAAABSU/fMKRALyWR_Y/s1600/IMG_0157.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Bh_V0nvluEw/UvZNNz4h-XI/AAAAAAAABSU/fMKRALyWR_Y/s1600/IMG_0157.JPG" height="298" width="400" /></a></div><br />Another bad aspect of this chair was the cushion and front panel under the cushion. They were both sagging and I suspected the foam inside was crumby and disintegrating. Also take photos of the cushion (how the zipper is attached, etc) if you are planning on ripping it apart to use as a template.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pSHkSQ_NQTg/UvZNOMK96zI/AAAAAAAABSc/hOSvf76zj10/s1600/IMG_0162.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pSHkSQ_NQTg/UvZNOMK96zI/AAAAAAAABSc/hOSvf76zj10/s1600/IMG_0162.JPG" height="298" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The panel under the cushion also had some unnecessary seams (see those little darts on the side) that I decided to forego when I redid the chair). I also switched the piece of fabric directly under the cushion with thick inexpensive muslin to reduce the amount of upholstery fabric I had to order (no one will see under the cushion anyhow).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-p4Zes3l8jEc/UvZPkYbA0xI/AAAAAAAABS0/YkHRhSzq39A/s1600/IMG_0164.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-p4Zes3l8jEc/UvZPkYbA0xI/AAAAAAAABS0/YkHRhSzq39A/s1600/IMG_0164.JPG" height="298" width="400" /></a></div><br />Once you are done documenting how the chair is constructed, you can start deconstructing it (again, taking more photos as you open seams and remove panels of fabric. To get started, turn the chair upside down so you are looking at the dust cover (called cambric). And let the staple-removing fun begin!<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PZnQ5h7pqSk/UvZNOramRPI/AAAAAAAABSk/zeWntKT6ToE/s1600/IMG_0170.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PZnQ5h7pqSk/UvZNOramRPI/AAAAAAAABSk/zeWntKT6ToE/s1600/IMG_0170.JPG" height="298" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Check out my next post for the "Deconstruction" steps...</div><div><br /></div></div>Green Zebra Market Gardenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10030147550078130741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3317831929969913370.post-91064287125951648042014-02-08T11:33:00.000-05:002014-02-08T11:33:10.642-05:00Homemade PillowsI churned out about 7 pillows the other weekend. I don't think I quite figured out how to do the zipper until the second or third one. Once I figured it out (which only happened once I <b>stopped</b> following the directions), they actually turned out looking pretty professional. I may re-do the first pillow I attempted, since I have extra fabric, but it still turned out okay.<br /><br />Unfortunately, the charcoal gray fabric I ordered to reupholster my couch is still on backorder, so we are currently living with the couch covered in a chartreuse green bed sheet. At least the new pillows still kind of match!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GEv9Wj_eACk/UvZa3rWYaaI/AAAAAAAABVA/dOr-p7cD2Hs/s1600/IMG_0547.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GEv9Wj_eACk/UvZa3rWYaaI/AAAAAAAABVA/dOr-p7cD2Hs/s1600/IMG_0547.JPG" height="263" width="400" /></a></div><br />My first upholstery project, this high-back chair is finished and has it's own throw pillow.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DRa_f-eB0Ik/UvZazf3Dd2I/AAAAAAAABUw/zN4pfzMYbks/s1600/IMG_0548.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DRa_f-eB0Ik/UvZazf3Dd2I/AAAAAAAABUw/zN4pfzMYbks/s1600/IMG_0548.jpg" height="400" width="298" /></a></div><br />This chair will also be recovered in the charcoal gray fabric. I made a throw pillow for it using the leftover fabric from the high-back chair<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-p6iv06QmRY8/UvZa0FhkY4I/AAAAAAAABU0/HpeBNCBNHfk/s1600/IMG_0549.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-p6iv06QmRY8/UvZa0FhkY4I/AAAAAAAABU0/HpeBNCBNHfk/s1600/IMG_0549.jpg" height="400" width="298" /></a></div><br />Green Zebra Market Gardenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10030147550078130741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3317831929969913370.post-53493443376521798342014-02-06T08:00:00.000-05:002014-02-06T08:00:01.445-05:00My First GreenhouseWe are getting fairly close to ramping up production for the spring planting season. I picked up a few trays of plants during my<a href="http://greenzebramarketgarden.blogspot.com/2014/02/greenhouse-visit-c-raker-and-sons.html"> visit to Rakers Greenhouse</a> last week. They have been potted up and are currently residing in one of the greenhouses that I have been assigned.<br /><br />I can't believe I get to fill this entire greenhouse (and then some)!<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qh2KSdFx-M8/UvEpIOhuCxI/AAAAAAAABPw/_YBpa_qmNpY/s1600/Greenhouse2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qh2KSdFx-M8/UvEpIOhuCxI/AAAAAAAABPw/_YBpa_qmNpY/s1600/Greenhouse2.jpg" height="297" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View to the right</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lh6IeXO4ZSk/UvEpIAhweII/AAAAAAAABPs/SUzxuIuA3Hs/s1600/Greenhouse.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lh6IeXO4ZSk/UvEpIAhweII/AAAAAAAABPs/SUzxuIuA3Hs/s1600/Greenhouse.jpg" height="298" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View to the left</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Vy8ymx0Oo-Q/UvEpIBajxkI/AAAAAAAABP0/r81s4d2phxU/s1600/Alcea+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Vy8ymx0Oo-Q/UvEpIBajxkI/AAAAAAAABP0/r81s4d2phxU/s1600/Alcea+2.jpg" height="297" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My first seed grown crop in the greenhouse: Alcea rosea</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pjlkXyoAilU/UvEpItJmB7I/AAAAAAAABQI/3ULuOlzSGxs/s1600/Hypoestes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pjlkXyoAilU/UvEpItJmB7I/AAAAAAAABQI/3ULuOlzSGxs/s1600/Hypoestes.jpg" height="400" width="297" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hypoestes from plugs</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Kl4YW1Byfuc/UvEpI6zoOgI/AAAAAAAABQE/AKcYJGTFf9U/s1600/Oxalis.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Kl4YW1Byfuc/UvEpI6zoOgI/AAAAAAAABQE/AKcYJGTFf9U/s1600/Oxalis.jpg" height="297" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oxalis from plugs</td></tr></tbody></table><br />Green Zebra Market Gardenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10030147550078130741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3317831929969913370.post-1460746831564863932014-02-04T12:50:00.000-05:002014-02-04T12:50:11.006-05:00Greenhouse Visit: C Raker and SonsI had the opportunity (i.e. they needed an extra driver) to go on a greenhouse tour with one of our undergraduate horticulture classes last week. I have been to Rakers Greenhouse many times before and I've gone on at least three other tours there, but somehow I still learned lots of new things. Our tour guides were excellent and were able to answer all of the questions the students had.<br /><br />This particular greenhouse specializes in "young plants", meaning that they sell plugs (tiny rooted plants) that are only a handful of weeks old. They are then shipped to other greenhouses where they are transplanted and grown to full size.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DziN8V8hnX4/UvEmsC5_cfI/AAAAAAAABPc/2mpKcKwBcSw/s1600/Young+Plants.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DziN8V8hnX4/UvEmsC5_cfI/AAAAAAAABPc/2mpKcKwBcSw/s1600/Young+Plants.jpg" height="297" width="400" /></a></div><br />It's always nice to be inside a nice warm and humid greenhouse on a cold winter day.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xc6IlVmeDeE/UvEmrojihUI/AAAAAAAABPE/UKM9h8qeuQc/s1600/Coleus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xc6IlVmeDeE/UvEmrojihUI/AAAAAAAABPE/UKM9h8qeuQc/s1600/Coleus.jpg" height="297" width="400" />&nbsp;</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>We also got to pick out some material for the class to bring back to campus and pot up. This greenhouse dumps all their excess (overgrown/unmarketable) stock each Thursday and they generously offer it to nonprofit groups and for educational purposes. I've been hearing about these mythic 'Raker's Dump Days' for years now and I finally got to go. The students got some cool plants and I was able to grab a few trays of perennials for our perennial manager and some trays for the annual gardens too.<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CqEN0-9zPfc/UvEmrvVKdFI/AAAAAAAABPA/VI8M7L566Rg/s1600/Young+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CqEN0-9zPfc/UvEmrvVKdFI/AAAAAAAABPA/VI8M7L566Rg/s1600/Young+2.jpg" height="297" width="400" /></a></div><br />They had a pretty neat section devoted just to succulents. Unfortunately, they are slow-growing and therefore unlikely to end up in the dump pile.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-30BIjNa7JSA/UvEmrtZqZ8I/AAAAAAAABPI/fdArlq6zfPs/s1600/Succulents.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-30BIjNa7JSA/UvEmrtZqZ8I/AAAAAAAABPI/fdArlq6zfPs/s1600/Succulents.jpg" height="297" width="400" /></a></div><br />&nbsp;Most everything they sell is shipped before it's even in bloom, so it was odd to see this bench of flowering plants. However, they explained that due to the frigid temperatures, they have not been able to ship anything for almost three weeks! That means they have been holding much of their inventory longer than they would normally. Hopefully this cold snap breaks soon enough that they can ship...or else they're going to be dumping a ton of plant material!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-25Qljol3NuM/UvEmsq5XESI/AAAAAAAABPY/cqqEkejKL8Q/s1600/Young.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-25Qljol3NuM/UvEmsq5XESI/AAAAAAAABPY/cqqEkejKL8Q/s1600/Young.jpg" height="297" width="400" /></a></div><br /><br /><br />Green Zebra Market Gardenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10030147550078130741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3317831929969913370.post-74729510027981740212014-02-03T08:00:00.000-05:002014-02-03T12:12:18.611-05:00Eating From the Garden in February!Amazingly, it'sFebruary, and we're are still eating meals occasionally that include some form of garden produce from last summer. For example, last night we had beef and barley stew made with homegrown potatoes, onions, garlic, and thyme. With starting up my new job mid-summer, I really didn't have time to do as much canning and preserving as I would normally do. However, I actually got to teach a class called 'Preserving The Harvest' in August last year. I did a little canning, drying, and freezing so I would have demos and food to taste for the class.<br /><br />I still have a crate of these banana fingerling potatoes in the basement. As well as a crate of the largest 'Yukon Gold' potatoes I've ever seen. My potato harvest was huge (a.k.a. scary huge) last year!<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CN0gMdJawCs/Uufw-mIP1rI/AAAAAAAABNs/IUgHwazOWWQ/s1600/DSCF5220.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CN0gMdJawCs/Uufw-mIP1rI/AAAAAAAABNs/IUgHwazOWWQ/s1600/DSCF5220.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br />I dehydrated tons of Principe Borghese tomatoes last summer so I could make a sun-dried tomato dip for my preserving class. I've barely made a dent in them!<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-l0eMb0Z50-g/Uufx8sTzRJI/AAAAAAAABOg/OCpMzZbVXzY/s1600/DSCF5226.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-l0eMb0Z50-g/Uufx8sTzRJI/AAAAAAAABOg/OCpMzZbVXzY/s1600/DSCF5226.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div><br /><br />I grew lots and lots of soybeans last year and froze several gallon size bags of edamame. These are so good boiled and salted!<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5eg3ux8GzR4/Uufx8i-chVI/AAAAAAAABOc/KGYS6JtGk9I/s1600/DSCF5233.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5eg3ux8GzR4/Uufx8i-chVI/AAAAAAAABOc/KGYS6JtGk9I/s1600/DSCF5233.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Some of my onions have gotten mushy in storage (I should really put them down in the basement instead of in the kitchen), but many are still nice and firm. I grew heading onions for the first time last year. I've only ever planted onions sets and harvested them as green onions. Last year I grew 'Ailsa Craig' and was pleased to get nice large bulbs that seem to hold up fairly well in storage. This year I'm going to grow 'Copra' because they are known for their storage.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-i0hAfShnP1w/Uufw-zKlycI/AAAAAAAABOA/H0bvgsTMGaA/s1600/DSCF5222.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-i0hAfShnP1w/Uufw-zKlycI/AAAAAAAABOA/H0bvgsTMGaA/s1600/DSCF5222.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />I still have about a dozen heads of garlic left, probably not enough to last me until next harvest. I braided them and they're hanging in my kitchen. The braids look so pretty that it's hard to start cutting heads off of them. I probably also didn't plant enough garlic last year, so I'll run out again next winter. I seem to do that every year. This fall I should just plant what seems like a ridiculous amount and then it will end up being just enough!<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1gn6BFmfUsg/Uuf15TUbKYI/AAAAAAAABOw/eE_mwssiCB0/s1600/Garlic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1gn6BFmfUsg/Uuf15TUbKYI/AAAAAAAABOw/eE_mwssiCB0/s1600/Garlic.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div><br />Green Zebra Market Gardenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10030147550078130741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3317831929969913370.post-84003061972590151172014-02-01T08:00:00.000-05:002014-02-01T08:00:00.993-05:00Winter Blues Cure: Crates of VegetablesI always love photos of crates full of veggies. Here a few photos from last summer than I never got the opportunity to share.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SOtrBdz6nwo/UufxeDEo1kI/AAAAAAAABOI/JVRkJdMRdDY/s1600/DSCF5210.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SOtrBdz6nwo/UufxeDEo1kI/AAAAAAAABOI/JVRkJdMRdDY/s1600/DSCF5210.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mixed heirloom tomatoes</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UpJmn-SerrM/Uufxd7UXTEI/AAAAAAAABOE/9MZ3OvvxdzM/s1600/DSCF5219.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UpJmn-SerrM/Uufxd7UXTEI/AAAAAAAABOE/9MZ3OvvxdzM/s1600/DSCF5219.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Banana fingerling potatoes</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tj2TqtWLkF8/UufxeOUWGoI/AAAAAAAABOM/FxoHBM53KP8/s1600/DSCF5235.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tj2TqtWLkF8/UufxeOUWGoI/AAAAAAAABOM/FxoHBM53KP8/s1600/DSCF5235.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A week's worth of veggies harvested from the MSU Horticulture Garden's&nbsp; that were donated to a local food bank.</td></tr></tbody></table><br />Green Zebra Market Gardenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10030147550078130741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3317831929969913370.post-38816395822724691492014-01-31T08:00:00.000-05:002014-01-31T08:00:00.858-05:00Winter Blues Cure: Buzzy Bees<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0DNbVIsn7is/Uufu9p6NIzI/AAAAAAAABM8/pul0AVL-TCo/s1600/DSCF5276.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nepeta 'Purple Haze'</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5lBWaWJ7fDE/Uufu9gogAaI/AAAAAAAABM4/dH3McoTe_hk/s1600/DSCF5284.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5lBWaWJ7fDE/Uufu9gogAaI/AAAAAAAABM4/dH3McoTe_hk/s1600/DSCF5284.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Zinnia 'Benary's Giants Mix'</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-80KJVf2SShE/Uufu9ot_E5I/AAAAAAAABM0/sEXKKDFnA44/s1600/DSCF5285.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-80KJVf2SShE/Uufu9ot_E5I/AAAAAAAABM0/sEXKKDFnA44/s1600/DSCF5285.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Zinnia 'Benary's Giants Mix'</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oZsncT8RYe8/Uufu-hqJ7-I/AAAAAAAABNI/nGQiuOCVd1w/s1600/DSCF5317.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oZsncT8RYe8/Uufu-hqJ7-I/AAAAAAAABNI/nGQiuOCVd1w/s1600/DSCF5317.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Salvia 'Evolution'</td></tr></tbody></table>Here's hoping our bee hive at the MSU Horticulture Gardens makes it through this brutal winter!Green Zebra Market Gardenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10030147550078130741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3317831929969913370.post-33822743039423515842014-01-30T08:00:00.000-05:002014-01-30T08:00:01.485-05:00Winter Blues Cure: EchinaceaWinter really sucks. Let's look at Echinacea from this past summer!<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ecPy4oYZNrQ/Uufr7gqOvBI/AAAAAAAABL8/Lj_YH_XlvaA/s1600/DSCF5275.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ecPy4oYZNrQ/Uufr7gqOvBI/AAAAAAAABL8/Lj_YH_XlvaA/s1600/DSCF5275.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Secret Glow</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3CdzD0TYPWI/Uufr7hn-Y1I/AAAAAAAABL4/Ti9AVbzBy64/s1600/DSCF5296.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3CdzD0TYPWI/Uufr7hn-Y1I/AAAAAAAABL4/Ti9AVbzBy64/s1600/DSCF5296.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-All2nsnV-CU/Uufr7QIU_tI/AAAAAAAABL0/TcHPbzKc0Go/s1600/DSCF5302.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-All2nsnV-CU/Uufr7QIU_tI/AAAAAAAABL0/TcHPbzKc0Go/s1600/DSCF5302.JPG" height="285" width="400" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rSUMW1FuPA0/Uufr8bVjBiI/AAAAAAAABMM/z-lB1FK0Hb4/s1600/DSCF5303.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rSUMW1FuPA0/Uufr8bVjBiI/AAAAAAAABMM/z-lB1FK0Hb4/s1600/DSCF5303.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-u-gvOQe4vCo/UufsG8PMenI/AAAAAAAABMU/5NH_2lreTqY/s1600/DSCF5297.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-u-gvOQe4vCo/UufsG8PMenI/AAAAAAAABMU/5NH_2lreTqY/s1600/DSCF5297.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1S03fPXqDrI/UufsMMn91GI/AAAAAAAABMc/oXTkXRWDsnQ/s1600/IMG_3604.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1S03fPXqDrI/UufsMMn91GI/AAAAAAAABMc/oXTkXRWDsnQ/s1600/IMG_3604.JPG" height="400" width="266" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cheyenne Spirit Mix</td></tr></tbody></table><br />Green Zebra Market Gardenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10030147550078130741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3317831929969913370.post-62320239999914430322014-01-29T08:00:00.000-05:002014-01-28T12:53:24.441-05:00Winter Blues Cure: ZinniasYesterday's temperature (with the wind chill) was about -20F. Yikes! So let's look at some pretty summer photos of zinnias!<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jmz4TwF4H0o/UufrFic4siI/AAAAAAAABLI/oQ_Q8kHiPOU/s1600/DSCF5263.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jmz4TwF4H0o/UufrFic4siI/AAAAAAAABLI/oQ_Q8kHiPOU/s1600/DSCF5263.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dreamland Coral</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FVbaEfj-1EM/UufrFmQa3_I/AAAAAAAABLE/9m_8Hc_tc9Y/s1600/DSCF5257.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FVbaEfj-1EM/UufrFmQa3_I/AAAAAAAABLE/9m_8Hc_tc9Y/s1600/DSCF5257.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oklahoma Mix with Pennisetum 'Vertigo'</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mmNQHgKUBEw/UufrGT_JjeI/AAAAAAAABLU/ssRJkFEMI2I/s1600/DSCF5277.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mmNQHgKUBEw/UufrGT_JjeI/AAAAAAAABLU/ssRJkFEMI2I/s1600/DSCF5277.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Benary's Giant Mix</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--9URFsZipK4/UufrGt5et6I/AAAAAAAABLo/jUPFE6zbGrg/s1600/DSCF5278.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--9URFsZipK4/UufrGt5et6I/AAAAAAAABLo/jUPFE6zbGrg/s1600/DSCF5278.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Benary's Giant Mix</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-clRGTbwdtB8/UufrG6T9hqI/AAAAAAAABLg/OCPRrNapi7g/s1600/DSCF5283.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-clRGTbwdtB8/UufrG6T9hqI/AAAAAAAABLg/OCPRrNapi7g/s1600/DSCF5283.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Benary's Giant Mix</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nkm3DeRwHMk/UufsUT4XcdI/AAAAAAAABMk/arEdo7Q_kCk/s1600/IMG_4033.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nkm3DeRwHMk/UufsUT4XcdI/AAAAAAAABMk/arEdo7Q_kCk/s1600/IMG_4033.JPG" height="400" width="285" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oklahoma Mix w/ Pennisetum 'Vertigo'</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SQHLKTxA-9g/UufsUo1NM4I/AAAAAAAABMo/MDBPi0p3Znk/s1600/IMG_4035.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SQHLKTxA-9g/UufsUo1NM4I/AAAAAAAABMo/MDBPi0p3Znk/s1600/IMG_4035.JPG" height="400" width="285" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Unknown Zinnia with Gomphrena and Tuscan Kale</td></tr></tbody></table><br />Green Zebra Market Gardenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10030147550078130741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3317831929969913370.post-26173242050994516422014-01-28T08:00:00.000-05:002014-01-28T08:00:00.297-05:00Finding Fabric for Upholstery Projects<br />I did a lot of research (a ton of research, actually) on upholstery fabric for the three pieces of living room furniture I'm redoing this winter. I've only ever sewn quilt blocks and a few random pieces of clothing, so upholstery fabric was pretty foreign to me.<br /><br />I'm still not an expert, but here are a few tips I learned during my explorations of the upholstery fabric world:<br /><ul><li>Make sure you use upholstery-grade fabrics on furniture. Many "home-decor" fabrics are only intended for light-duty curtains or throw pillows, not furniture. If you take the time to reupholster something, you're going to want it to last a while.</li></ul><ul><li>Related to the above statement, find out how many double-rubs a fabric is rated for, if possible.You can sometimes get away with "medium-duty" fabrics, but "heavy-duty" fabrics generally have at least 15,000 double rubs.</li></ul><ul><li>Avoid fabrics that "crock". I had to look this term up after seeing a warning on a fabric at Joann Fabrics. Fabrics that crock have a tendency to release excess dye. That means they can stain clothing and pretty much anything that rubs up against them. They can even stain the plastic parts of a sewing machine. I can't imagine any reason someone would want to use this type of fabric, so I'm not even sure why it exists.</li></ul><ul><li>If ordering fabric online, order swatches if possible. Often, the colors on your computer screen, do not match the real-life colors. For example, I've ordered three swatches of what appeared to be coral fabric (see below) and all three turned out to be more orange in living color. Textured fabrics can also look very different. For example, I found three different textured dark gray fabrics online that I liked, so I ordered swatches. When they arrived, they all looked like cheap commercial carpeting</li></ul><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SvT1aWqGtxg/UuLp_vBMlII/AAAAAAAABJ4/j4dy910LTCM/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-01-24+at+5.32.11+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SvT1aWqGtxg/UuLp_vBMlII/AAAAAAAABJ4/j4dy910LTCM/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-01-24+at+5.32.11+PM.png" height="195" width="200" /></a>&nbsp;<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-i9njxiTGcRU/UuLp_UHLQXI/AAAAAAAABJ0/zkVOG31x_Pc/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-01-24+at+5.31.43+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-i9njxiTGcRU/UuLp_UHLQXI/AAAAAAAABJ0/zkVOG31x_Pc/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-01-24+at+5.31.43+PM.png" height="188" width="200" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-B_ahRehcpvA/UuLqhVfmfMI/AAAAAAAABKE/GKaQMsgZytk/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-01-24+at+5.34.37+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-B_ahRehcpvA/UuLqhVfmfMI/AAAAAAAABKE/GKaQMsgZytk/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-01-24+at+5.34.37+PM.png" /></a></div><ul><li>Keep an eye on how much of your fabric is in-stock. More than once, I ordered swatches of fabric, only to have that fabric sell-out BEFORE the swatches even arrived at my door.&nbsp;</li></ul><ul><li>If your heart is set on a certain fabric, but it is out of stock, check with the company to see if it will be restocked. Companies can't always restock fabrics, but often they can. Ask them what date the fabric will be back in stock so you can keep an eye out for it.</li></ul><ul><li>If your budget is tight, check out websites like <a href="http://www.fabric.com/">www.fabric.com</a> and <a href="http://www.fabricguru.com./">www.fabricguru.com.</a>&nbsp;All of the fabrics I picked out from these sites were less than $15/yard (with many being about $8/yard). Most upholstery fabrics at chain fabric stores (like Joann Fabrics) are at least $30/yard. Designer fabrics can be well over $70/yard! As far as I can tell from all the swatches I ordered, the fabrics from these discount websites are perfectly good quality.</li></ul><ul><li>Take advantage of coupons and discount codes. You can pretty much always get 40 to 50% off coupons for Joann Fabric. Sometimes they also have 10 to 15% off your total order coupons and you can often get free shipping coupons. Similarly, websites like <a href="http://www.fabric.com/">www.fabric.com</a> occasionally have discount codes for free shipping.</li></ul>Green Zebra Market Gardenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10030147550078130741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3317831929969913370.post-47042604958347087052014-01-27T08:00:00.000-05:002014-01-27T08:00:01.307-05:00Winter Upholstery Projects<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Here are three pieces of furniture in my living room that I'm working on reupholstering this winter. The two chairs were both purchased at a thrift store. The couch is a hand-me-down from my parents.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The first chair is currently upholstered in worn sky blue velvet. I bought this chair almost 5 years ago, so I'm not quite sure, but I think I paid about $20 for it. It will be redone in a charcoal gray woven fabric. I will not be replacing the tacks, but will instead cover those areas with double-welting (more on that later). Since the chair-back is concave, I will have to replace the buttons/tufting, which I haven't done before.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FcAvwYDh8r0/UuKjIrMPVXI/AAAAAAAABJc/lhI7-Of0I-A/s1600/Chair.jpg" height="400" width="297" />&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The second thrift store chair was purchased in the last month or so for about $12. It was also done in blue velvet (must have been popular at some point). It has already been reupholstered (more posts to follow) in a white and gray floral fabric with olive-green cockatoos.&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uZ0s5npCjo8/UuKjIiajCYI/AAAAAAAABJY/ok5NN2hZg9s/s1600/High+back+chair.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uZ0s5npCjo8/UuKjIiajCYI/AAAAAAAABJY/ok5NN2hZg9s/s1600/High+back+chair.jpg" height="400" width="297" />&nbsp;</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>I grew up with this antique couch in my parent's house. I'm not completely sure what color the fabric was originally (beige? champagne?), but these days "dirty dishwater" describes it best. It has metal claw feet (which I love), and hand-carving on the scroll arms and seat back. This will be redone in the same charcoal gray woven fabric as the first chair.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-atSfdlYbhdk/UuKjItBSK3I/AAAAAAAABJU/pBRi0BVuNr8/s1600/Couch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-atSfdlYbhdk/UuKjItBSK3I/AAAAAAAABJU/pBRi0BVuNr8/s1600/Couch.jpg" height="298" width="400" /></a></div><br />I'm also making new throw pillows to liven things up a bit. My boyfriend didn't seem too keen on some of the bright colors and wild prints I was thinking of using on the furniture, so I'll have to limit myself to some fun throw pillows. There are also plants to make an ottoman to match the couch. My plan is to purchase a coffee table from Ikea, add foam, cover with the same couch fabric, and do some tufting.<br /><br />My plans may be overly ambitious, so hopefully we won't end up living with our furniture stripped down to the bones for months on end (e.g. our naked couch is currently covered in a bed sheet). The first chair turned out great, so I'm excited to start working on the other two pieces (if only my fabric wasn't back-ordered)!Green Zebra Market Gardenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10030147550078130741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3317831929969913370.post-10002232365545786832014-01-24T08:00:00.000-05:002014-01-24T08:00:01.263-05:00Seed Purchases for 2014: Scaling Down the Insanity<span style="background-color: white; font-weight: 700; line-height: 14.850000381469727px;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">I recently placed my main seed order for the 2014 garden. I'm really scaling things down this year due to my new job. &nbsp;I expect to be pretty exhausted after gardening all day at work, so I don't want things to be quite as crazy at my home garden. In addition, I probably won't need to grow many of my own transplants considering we hold an amazing vegetable transplant sale at work each May.</span></span><br /><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span id="yui_3_13_0_ym1_1_1390395984181_7330" style="background-color: white; font-weight: 700; line-height: 14.850000381469727px;"><br /></span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-weight: 700; line-height: 14.850000381469727px;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">My main order was with <a href="http://www.superseeds.com/">Pinetree Garden Seeds</a>. I've been buying seeds from them for as long as I've been growing my own transplants. I like this company because they sell small quantities of seed (appropriate for the home gardener). Most of their seed packets are less than $2 each, which is cheaper than most seed you can find elsewhere. Here's what I ordered with some personal notes below each variety:</span></span><br /><span style="background-color: white; font-weight: 700; line-height: 14.850000381469727px;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span><ul><li><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-weight: 700; line-height: 14.850000381469727px;">EARLY PURPLE SPROUTING BROCCOLI (35 days):&nbsp;</span><span style="background-color: #fffff8; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 24.799999237060547px;">This purple version of Raab is popular in the North. An alternative way to grow it is to plant in mid-summer, over-winter it and then get two months of delicious cuttings the following spring. High in vitamins with a tangy flavor.</span></li><ul><li><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 24.799999237060547px;">I've been wanting to try this for a couple years now. We eat a lot of broccoli, but I've never had much success with regular heading broccoli.</span></li></ul></ul><ul><li><span id="yui_3_13_0_ym1_1_1390395984181_7326" style="background-color: white; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-weight: 700; line-height: 14.850000381469727px;">PURPLE PEACOCK BROCCOLI (70 days):&nbsp;</span><span style="background-color: #fffff8; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 24.799999237060547px;">We are very excited to add this enchanting open pollinated variety to our broccoli selection this year. It is a cross between broccoli and two kales, absolutely beautiful either in the garden or edible landscape. The young leaves are tender, great for salads and the older colorful serrated leaves are used like kale. Loose heads of purple florets are not massive in size, but taste excellent with the plant then producing generous side shoots. This is definitely one vegetable you will want to show off to the visitors of your garden. Bred by Frank Morton.</span><span style="background-color: #fffff8; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 24.799999237060547px;">&nbsp;</span></li><ul><li><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 24.799999237060547px;">I tried growing broccoli rabe many years ago. It grew well, but it tasted horrible (I'm not a big fan of bitter greens). I always saw broccoli rabe being used on cooking shows (like Rachel Ray), so I expected it to be a little more universally likeable. This variety is supposed to be similar to rabe, yet different.</span></span></li></ul></ul><ul><li><span id="yui_3_13_0_ym1_1_1390395984181_7322" style="background-color: white; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-weight: 700; line-height: 14.850000381469727px;">HONEY ROCK MELON (90 days heirloom):&nbsp;</span><span style="background-color: #fffff8; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">HEIRLOOM 1920 In 1936 Henry A Dreer Seed Co. stated: "This new musk melon is outstanding for the delicious sweetness and rich aroma of its tender, luscious, salmon colored flesh. The fruits are almost round. They are of medium size but have extremely thick flesh surrounding the small seed cavity. The skin of the heavy fruits is a grey-green color showing a rough netting".</span><span style="background-color: #fffff8; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">&nbsp;</span></li><ul><li><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">I knew the difference between a honey rock and regular&nbsp;cantaloupe&nbsp;at an&nbsp;embarrassingly&nbsp;young age. I finally had&nbsp;some success growing melons last summer (due to using black plastic mulch), so I'm going to give this childhood favorite a try.</span></span></li></ul></ul><ul><li><span id="yui_3_13_0_ym1_1_1390395984181_7317" style="background-color: white; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-weight: 700; line-height: 14.850000381469727px;">ZUCCHETTA TROMBONCINO SUMMER SQ</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-weight: 700; line-height: 14.850000381469727px;">UASH:&nbsp;</span><span style="background-color: #fffff8; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">HEIRLOOM This tasty zucchini grows like squash and will need a lot of room for its 5 foot runners. The light yellow-green fruit is slender with a bulbous end and should be harvested at about 10 inches.Leaving it on the vine can produce variously twisted squash 3 feet long and 6 inches wide. Firmer than the zucchini we're used to, the flavor is mild and delicious. Can be grown up a very strong trellis.</span></li><ul><li><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">I've heard good things about this variety. I've been growing Costuluto Genovese the last few years as my summer squash, so I'm ready to try something new.</span></span></li></ul></ul><ul><li><span id="yui_3_13_0_ym1_1_1390395984181_7313" style="background-color: white; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-weight: 700; line-height: 14.850000381469727px;">RED STREAKED MUSTARD (20-45 days):&nbsp;</span><span style="background-color: #fffff8; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 24.799999237060547px;">One of our favorite trials this year! The deeply serrated fringy baby leaves are purple-red and pack a zingy peppery flavor that gets bolder with age. Great to plant along with other baby greens to add some flare to a salad. It is slow to bolt but best planted in spring or fall.</span><span style="background-color: #fffff8; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 24.799999237060547px;">&nbsp;</span></li><ul><li><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 24.799999237060547px;">I've been growing this for several years now, so I need to replenish my seed stash. The taste is really great (similar to arugula) and the finely cut red foliage is absolutely gorgeous!</span></span></li></ul></ul><ul><li><span id="yui_3_13_0_ym1_1_1390395984181_7347" style="background-color: white; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-weight: 700; line-height: 14.850000381469727px;">KYOTO MIZUNA GREENS (43 days heirloom):&nbsp;</span><span style="background-color: #fffff8; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">HEIRLOOM This popular Japanese green is often used as part of a Mesclun mix, but we feel it merits individual attention. The very attractive, deeply cut and serrated, narrow leaves grow vigorously into large bunched heads which resist bolting and allow for extended picking. With a mild, pleasant cabbagey flavor, Mizuna can be eaten raw in salads, or cooked in stir-fries, soups, etc.</span></li><ul><li><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">Another green I've been growing for a while and need to restock.</span></span></li></ul></ul><ul><li><span id="yui_3_13_0_ym1_1_1390395984181_7379" style="background-color: white; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-weight: 700; line-height: 14.850000381469727px;">AMBITION SHALLOT (F1 hybrid 100 days):&nbsp;</span><span style="background-color: #fffff8; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 24.799999237060547px;">A fine shallot for growing especially during the summer in the North. This one isn't really designed for "short day" conditions. Provides a nice sized bulb, 2 inches and very high yields. With the reddish brown skin and high-rounded shape it looks like a big nut. Shallots from seed are a bargain and Ambition will address a large cross-section of possible uses.</span></li><ul><li><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 24.799999237060547px;">I grew this for the first time last year and was really pleased (and somewhat surprised). I didn't realize you could grow shallots from seed, I thought you had to buy bulbs. These grew nicely sized bulbs by the end of the summer and they've been storing really well. I still have some in my onion bin.</span></span></li></ul></ul><ul><li><span id="yui_3_13_0_ym1_1_1390395984181_7395" style="background-color: white; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-weight: 700; line-height: 14.850000381469727px;">COPRA ONION (F1 hybrid 107 days):&nbsp;</span><span style="background-color: #fffff8; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 24.799999237060547px;">An excellent storage onion with a distinctive coppery brown skin and medium to large bulbs that are somewhat globular. The onions are as flavorful when you take them out of the root cellar in the Spring as they were the previous Fall. This is a very hard, sweet onion with thin tops that dry quickly.</span></li><ul><li><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 24.799999237060547px;">My onion crop was great last year and I still have tons of onions in storage. However, the Ailsa Craig I grew last year is getting pretty mushy in storage. Copra is supposed to store well, so I'll give it a try.</span></span></li></ul></ul><ul><li><span id="yui_3_13_0_ym1_1_1390395984181_7386" style="background-color: white; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-weight: 700; line-height: 14.850000381469727px;">BEIT ALPHA CUCUMBER (F1 hybrid 52 days):&nbsp;</span><span style="background-color: #fffff8; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 24.799999237060547px;">Also called a Lebanese or Middle Eastern cucumber, much of the breeding work on these varieties has been done in Israel. The large, smooth, somewhat blocky, burpless, and nearly spineless fruit can be either pickled or eaten fresh. The flavor, including that of the skin, is very mild.</span><span style="background-color: #fffff8; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 24.799999237060547px;">&nbsp;</span></li><ul><li><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 24.799999237060547px;">I've been eyeing this variety for a few years now, but I usually stay away from hybrid seed, if possible. However, this is the style of cucumber I like these days, so I'll try it.</span></span></li></ul></ul><ul><li><span id="yui_3_13_0_ym1_1_1390395984181_7416" style="background-color: white; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-weight: 700; line-height: 14.850000381469727px;">HONEY &amp; CREAM CORN (F1 hybrid 77 days):&nbsp;</span><span style="background-color: #fffff8; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 24.799999237060547px;">This long time favorite bicolor corn produces excellent flavor and appearance. Stalks are 7-1/2 feet tall and produce 7 inch ears with 12 to 14 rows per ear. Superior flavor for a normal sugary variety is the main attraction.</span></li><ul><li><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 24.799999237060547px;">Another hybrid variety that I'm surprised I'm ordering. Last year's corn was a complete bust. I was dumb and planted popcorn and sweetcorn right next to each other. The result was popcorn that didn't pop and sweetcorn that was hard and starchy. This year I'm only planting a single variety, and this one has been popular for a long time.</span></span></li></ul></ul><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Green Zebra Market Gardenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10030147550078130741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3317831929969913370.post-10846040423426800202014-01-23T12:57:00.000-05:002014-01-23T12:57:19.570-05:00What Does $500 Worth of Seeds Looks Like?<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-a0aq4Eu4aHM/UuFV-pbqraI/AAAAAAAABJE/ERSvhlFfNq0/s1600/seeds.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-a0aq4Eu4aHM/UuFV-pbqraI/AAAAAAAABJE/ERSvhlFfNq0/s1600/seeds.jpg" height="414" width="640" /></a></div><br />Well, it doesn't look like much! They came in a package smaller than a shoebox! Even though these seeds were really expensive, this is like a dream come true for me! I got to pick out virtually whatever I wanted to grow in the MSU Horticulture Gardens this year, so I'll be trying out some fun things I've never grown before.&nbsp; And this order is only the beginning. I placed a second (albeit, much smaller) order this morning!<br /><br />This order includes 70 different varieties, including annuals (for me), perennials (for the perennial manager), and vegetable/herbs (for the head garden manager).&nbsp; Most of the seeds will be grown for our plant sale and fundraiser in May, but some of them are for the display beds in the annual garden.<br /><br />I can't wait to get started! Unfortunately, we are currently only in week 4 (in terms of the horticulture industry calendar), so I'll have to wait until about week 9 before I can start sowing some of these.Green Zebra Market Gardenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10030147550078130741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3317831929969913370.post-68570029487158635662014-01-22T12:44:00.001-05:002014-01-22T12:44:34.190-05:00The Last 6-Months: My Unbelievable New Job!So my last post is dated July 1st, 2013, which happens to be the day I started my current job (which probably explains the lack of posts). I'm not sure I can still call it my "new job", since I've been at it for over 6 months now. The job still feels new to me since my tasks seem to change almost every 2 weeks. Until I complete a full year, I won't really know what the entire job entails.<br /><br />I knew of the potential vacancy about 6 months in advance of the job being posted, so I had to wait and wait and wait some more. This was especially taxing considering that I had to jump from one temp-job to another about 5 times between finishing my Master's Degree and starting my current job. However, one of those temp jobs was pretty awesome...I got to teach a semester of undergraduate-level introductory biology. One of my main career goals has always been to teach at the college level, so achievement unlocked!!! Unfortunately I was an adjunct faculty, which means crummy pay and absolutely zero job security.<br /><br />My official title is Annual Trial Garden Manager for the Michigan State University Horticulture Gardens. Most people don't know what trial gardens are, which makes the job frustrating at times. Here's a short explanation: Horticulture breeding companies (think Proven Winners, Syngenta, Ball Horticulture, etc.) send their newest (and usually unreleased) plant varieties to me to be grown in our gardens. Sometimes they send seeds, while other times they send rooted cuttings. We grow them in our greenhouses and once the plants are ready for transplant, we plant them in our gardens (in a very organized and well-documented manner). We then evaluate the plants throughout the growing season and assign scores to each plant. This numerical data (along with our personal comments) are summarized at the end of the growing season and sent back to the breeding companies. They use this information to determine if a variety is ready to be released to the general public. Sometimes, breeding companies also submit varieties that have already been released, simply so they can show off their plant material to the visitors to our gardens (we get approximately 200,000 visitors each year).<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zkXN7iBUpAs/UuACvbm50hI/AAAAAAAABI0/2nGRctFFZes/s1600/Tractor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zkXN7iBUpAs/UuACvbm50hI/AAAAAAAABI0/2nGRctFFZes/s1600/Tractor.jpg" height="297" width="400" /></a></div><br />I'll explain more about my job in future posts (I could go on and on), but overall it has been an absolute blast. I feel incredibly privileged to find a career in the field I went to school for. This job is so much fun...it makes me feel like my 8 years of higher education were actually worth it.Green Zebra Market Gardenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10030147550078130741noreply@blogger.com2